Updated
Overview
Iran has 34% more people than France: 92.42 million against 68.72 million (2025).
France's economy is 9.3 times the size of Iran's, at $3.37T versus $362.68B.
Per person, France is the wealthier of the two: $48,986 against $3,924 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Iran | France | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $362.68B | Higher: $3.37T | 2025 | $436.91B / $3.16T |
| GDP per capita | $3,924 | Higher: $48,986 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | -2.8% | Higher: 0.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 42.2% | Lower: 0.9% | 2025 | 32.5% / 2.0% |
| Unemployment | 8.3% | Lower: 7.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | — | 77 | — / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | — | $5,024 | — / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,264 | Higher: $2,036 | 2023 / 2025 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 92.42 million | 68.72 million | 2025 | 89.18 million / 68.51 million |
| Population growth | 0.9% | 0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 34.0 yrs | 42.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.67 | 1.64 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 77.9 yrs | Higher: 83.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 77% | 79% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 85% | Higher: 89% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,648,195 km² | 643,801 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 56.1/km² | 106.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 793 Mt | Lower: 264 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 8.7 t | Lower: 4.0 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $7.89B | $64.68B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.0% | 2.1% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 650,000 | 304,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
France grew while the other economy contracted: 0.8% against -2.8%.
Inflation is a serious concern in Iran at 42.2%, while the other economy sits at 0.9%.
People and society
Iran is the far younger society: median age 34.0 versus 42.3 years.
Life expectancy is 5.1 years longer in France (83.0 vs 77.9).
Geography
By land area, Iran is 2.6 times the size of France: 1,648,195 km² versus 643,801 km².
Military
France spends 8.2 times as much on defence as Iran: $64.68B versus $7.89B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Iran fields the larger armed forces: 650,000 personnel against 304,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Iran bigger than France?
- Iran is larger by land area. Iran covers 1,648,195 km² while France covers 643,801 km², so Iran is 2.6 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Iran or France?
- Iran has the larger population: 92.42 million versus 68.72 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Iran richer than France?
- Measured by GDP per capita, France is richer: $48,986 against $3,924. Total GDP tells the same story: $362.68B for Iran versus $3.37T for France.
- Who spends more on their military, Iran or France?
- France spends more: $64.68B versus $7.89B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).